Student Support Services for Distance Learners
"Our first graduates demonstrate the power of the
Internet to help motivated adults achieve their personal educational
goals."
(Dr. Gary E. Miller, Executive Director, Penn State
World Campus)
The delivery of support services to
distance learners has expanded tremendously from a link to an institution's
library, one of the earliest off-campus aids offered to students. Most schools
with a distance alternative provide opportunities for all their students to
apply for admission, register, and, increasingly, to pay for courses, get
financial aid, and purchase textbooks online. The colleges and universities
linked to this issue are samples of ones that have developed a Web-visible assortment
of support services beyond the basics and specific to distance learners.
Online Directories and Handbooks of Services for Distance Learners
(Comprehensive Web pages that include links to all necessary services)
 Brevard Community College(FL).
Montgomery College
(MD).
Albuquerque
Technical and Vocational Institute (NM).
University of Minnesota.
Self-Assessment for Distance Learning Readiness
(Tools for interested students to determine if distance learning is right for them)
Brevard Community College (FL).
Hudson Valley Community College
(NY).
Montgomery College
(MD). Offers instruction along with assessment.
Sauk Valley Community College
(IL). Lists links to a learning style assessment tool, as well
as necessary information about taking distance courses.
Stephen F. Austin State University
(TX).
Virginia Tech.
West Virginia University.
Links to a ten-question self-discipline quiz at the PBS Web site.
Orientation to Distance Learning
Berkeley College
(NY/NJ). Gives multimedia orientation in both self-paced and auto-paced
formats.
National American
University (SD). Requires a one-week online orientation to
all beginning online courses.
Penn
State. Offers World Campus 101, an online orientation.
Stephen F. Austin State University
(TX). Includes a feedback form evaluating the orientation.
Virginia
Tech. Deals with topics related to all forms of distance learning.
Hardware Requirements for Distance Courses
Montgomery College (MD).
Includes equipment requirements for all types of distance learning.
National American
University (SD).
Penn State. Contains
a link to diagnostic tests for proper computer setup.
Stephen F. Austin State
University (TX). Has added information on software, proper
computer configuration.
Counseling Services
Albuquerque
Technical and Vocational Institute. Offers "off-campus
distance learning advisement."
Sauk Valley Community College.
Includes direct email link to a distance learning counselor.
Rio
Salado College (AZ). Provides counseling information bilingually.
Tutorial Services
Clackamas
Community College (OR). Offers online tutoring in English
and Science.
Community College of Denver.
Accepts form-based requests related to math courses.
Paradise Valley
Community College (AZ). Presents simple instructions to email
a math tutor.
Rio Salado
College (AZ). Includes daily Beep-a-Tutor service in selected
subjects.
Utah
Valley State College. Maintains a multi-function online writing
lab.
Winona State University
(MN). Provides writing assistance and evaluates essays to 1200
words.
Frequently Asked Questions
Brevard
Community College (FL). Presents answers in the form of "Everything
You Need to Know..."
Montgomery College
(MD).
National American
University (SD).
Stephen F. Austin State University
(TX). Groups questions by subject under Student Support Services
FAQs.
Other Online Support Services
In addition to the services above, some institutions have added other innovative touches:
Career Services.
Bulletin Boards.
Digital Student Newspapers.
Student Union Station.
Sample Placement Tests.
News Articles About the Distance Learning Program.
- Penn State. Presents a history
of the program via media reports.
Sample Online Lessons.
The contents of BEEP were developed under a grant from the U. S. Department of Education (DOE). However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the DOE, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.
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